Staking machine

ABSTRACT

A machine is disclosed for staking terminal pins to a printed circuit board in which two strips of terminal pins are fed alternately towards a shear anvil along separate paths. The leading terminal pin of each strip is received within one of a pair of spaced channels in a shear anvil positioned adjacent a shear block. The shear anvil is arranged to move between a first position in which one channel is in alignment with a terminal pin feed path while the second channel is in alignment with a staker and a second position in which the one channel is in alignment with the staker and the second channel is in alignment with a terminal feed path. Movement of a channel from a position in alignment with a feed path to a position in alignment with the staker causes a terminal pin in the channel to be sheared from the strip.

United States Patent Kindell et al.

[ July4,1972

[54] STAKING MACHINE [72] inventors: Colin David Kindell, 22 Forest Walk,

Bushey; Terence Robert Raynor, 15 Russell Road, London, both of England [22] Filed: May 21, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 39,409

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 17, 1969 Great Britain ..30,724/69 [52] US. Cl ..29/203 D, 29/203 R [51] Int. Cl ..H0lr 43/04 [58] Field of Search ..29/203 D, 203 DT, 203

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,416,212 12/1968 Busler et al. ..29/203 D 3,553,814 l/1971 Rider ..29/203 D Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager AtmmeyWi11iam J. Keating, Ronald D. Grcfe, Gerald K. Kita, Frederick W. Raring, Jay L. Seitchik and John P. Vandenburg [5 7] ABSTRACT A machine is disclosed for staking terminal pins to a printed circuit board in which two strips of terminal pins are fed alternately towards a shear anvil along separate paths. The leading terminal pin of each strip is received within one of a pair of spaced channels in a shear anvil positioned adjacent a shear block. The shear anvil is arranged to move between a first position in which one channel is in alignment with a terminal pin feed path while the second channel is in alignment with a staker and a second position in which the one channel is in alignment with the staker and the second channel is in alignment with a terminal feed path. Movement of a channel from a position in alignment with a feed path to a position in alignment with the staker causes a terminal pin in the channel to be sheared from the strip.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures STAKING MACHINE This invention relates to apparatus for staking electrical terminals to printed circuit and like boards.

According to the invention, apparatus for staking individual electrical terminals from a strip of such terminals to a board, comprises a staker movable towards and away from an anvil having a holder for a leading terminal, feed means for feeding the strip along a feed path past a shear block to the terminal holder, the anvil being adjacent the shear block and movable to move the holder laterally of the shear block between a first position in alignment with the feed path and a second position in alignment with the staker, movement of the holder in one direction between the positions being arranged to shear a leading terminal from the strip and in the other direction to advance the staker towards the anvil.

The terminal holder preferably comprises a channel defined by a surface of a groove formed in the anvil and a co-operating surface part of an associated guide block. Advantageously, the co-opcrating surface part of the guide block is resiliently attached to a body part of the guide block. The resilient mounting enables a terminal to be held firmly in the holder and minimizes relative movement between the terminal and the anvil when the anvil is between the first and second positions. Preferably the feed means are arranged to feed two strips of terminals alternately to the anvil along separate paths, the leading terminal of each strip being receivable within a corresponding one of two holders arranged such that as one holder is aligned with its corresponding feed path, the other is in alignment with the staker.

The apparatus preferably includes for a support board having a member to be staked, a locating device remote from the staker and anvil and comprising an elongate locating comb having longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves. A baseplate for the board is mounted adjacent the locating comb for movement about and parallel with the locating comb and has a pivotal finger receivable within a groove in the locating comb.

An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of a strip of terminals;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of apparatus for staking the terminals of FIG. 1 toa support board;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4' is a side view of a board to which a terminal has been staked;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the board of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a detail of an anvil and a guide block forming part of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

A terminal pin 110 of FIG. 1 is formed of electrically conductive material, for example, brass or steel, in the configuration of a strip 111. Each pin 110 includes an elongate body part 112 and two arms 113,114 extending from one side adjacent the leading end of the pin. The free end of the arm 1 14 is notched at 115. A portion 116 of the body part 112 tapers towards the trailing end of the pin.

A support board 210, FIGS. 4 and 5, has two rows of printed circuit modules 211, each having pairs of holes 212 for receiving the arms 1 13,114 of a terminal pin 110 by a staking operation. After staking the pins are flow soldered to the board and the individual modules 211 are pushed out of the support board 210 leaving the pin body parts 112 extending beyond the edge of the modules for electrical connection to, for example, wire terminals.

As shown in FIG. 2, an eIectro-pneumatic apparatus for staking terminal pins 1 10 to a module 21 1 includes a baseplate 1 to which is fixed a mounting block 2. Attached to the mounting block 2 is a generally C-shaped member 4 comprising a lower plate 5, an upright wall 6and an upper plate 7. The plate 7 has two longitudinally extending spaced parallel slots (not shown), each accommodating'a feed finger 22. Mounted on the plate 5 is a terminal pin feed assembly support 1 1 having a base part 12 and two side walls 13,14. The wall 14 supports two pneumatic piston and cylinder units 16,17, each connected to a clevis 18 to which is pivotally attached a feed finger holder 20 for one of the feed fingers 22. Pivotal movement of the feed finger holders 20 is controlled by adjusting screws 29.

Guides 24 extend laterally of the slots in the plate 7. The guides are each recessed along an edge adjacent a corresponding slot to define with the upper surface of the plate 7 channels 25 for receiving strips 111a,111b of terminal pins 110. A drag plate 26 is biased by springs 28 (only one shown) downwardly towards the guides 24. The drag plate 26 has legs 27 which extend into the channels 25. The ends 31 of the guides 24 overhang the end 9 of the plate 7 and are stepped to receive a shear block 33. An edge of the shear block 33 co-operates with a shear anvil 45, as explained below.

A space plate 35 attached to the wall 6 has bosses 37 having adjustable stop screws (not shown) for limiting the movement of the shear anvil 45. The space plate 35 has a projection 39 which extends into a recess 41 in the shear block 33 and a hole 42 for receiving an end of a pin 43 on which is pivotally secured the shear anvil 45. The opposite end of pin 43 is received in a hole 47 in a head 48 of an anvil holder 49. The shear anvil 45 has a body part 46 and two depending legs 53. The body part 46 is of generally U-shaped configuration and has two V-sectioned grooves 44 extending across one surface, (the upper as seen in FIG. 2). As best seen in FIG. 6, the surfaces 40 of the grooves 44 subtend an angle of substantially at the center of the hole 42. A recess 34 is formed at the upper end of each surface 40 and receives a raised portion 60 of a shoulder member 62 of a guide block 52. The shoulder members 62 are adhered to resilient blocks 64, for example, of rubber, which are also adhered to a central body part 67 of the guide block 52. The opposed surface of the shoulder members 62 and the surfaces 40 define terminal pin-receiving slots 50,51. The guide block 52 is secured to the body part 46 by a screw 30.

The legs 53 of the shear anvil 45 pivotally straddle a lever 55 secured to a piston and cylinder unit 56. The lever 55 has spaced slots 59 through which extend pins 57,57a. The unit 56 is mounted on a bracket 58 secured to the wall 6 of the member 4. An I/shape bracket 61 is mounted on the member 4 and supports micro-switches 63, 63a having switch arms 65,66 for engaging the pins 57, 57a on the lever 55.

A board support plate 70 is secured to a block 72 rotatably and slidably mounted on a shaft 73. The block 72 has a recess 79 in which is mounted a finger 74 for engaging one of circumferential grooves 75 on a locating comb 76, the grooves 75 being spaced according to the center pitch distance between staking holes 212. A spring 77 attached to the block 72 biases the plate 70 away from the comb 76. The shaft 73 and comb 76 are mounted between end arms 80,81 of a member 82 secured to the base plate 1. The member 82 is secured to a space block 84 on which is a bracket 85 for supporting microswitches 86,87 having switch arms 88,89 respectively.

A pneumatic piston and cylinder unit 91 is mounted on an arm 92 of a generally C-shaped bracket 93 welded to the base plate 1. Attached to an actuating rod 94 extending from the unit 91 is a block 95 to which is secured a tubular staker mounting member 96. A staker 97 is releasably secured to the member 96 by pins 98 (only one shown) received in through holes (not shown) in the member and engaging within a groove 99 in the staker. Three rods 101 are each secured at one end to the block 95 and at the opposite end to lugs 102. Each rod 101 has a spring 104 biased between the lug 102 and a washer 105. A rubber pad 106 is attached to the end of the tubular member 103 remote from the block 95. A bushing 108 fits within the upper end of the tubular member 103 and the member 96 is a sliding fit within the bore of the bushing 108.

Two guide members 38 (only one shown) extend alongside the block 95 and are each secured to a block 36 attached to the side of the arm 92. A striker plate 68 is attached to the block 95 and has a depending arm for actuating a change-over switch 69.

Referring to the circuit diagram of FIG. 3, when the support plate 70 is pivoted to engage arms 88,89 of micro-switches 86,87 the contacts of micro-switch 86 are closed and current is supplied to a solenoid S4 to actuate valve V4 which controls the airsupply to a foot pedal (not shown) for activating unit 91. At the same time, the contacts of micro-switch 87 are opened to break the circuit to the change-over switch 69 which controls the current flow to either of two solenoids S1,S2 which control a double solenoid operated valve V3 supplying air to either side of the piston in unit 56.

Movement of the piston of unit 56 via lever 55 and pins 57,57a operates one of the two micro-switches 63,63a which control solenoids S3,S3a on valves V1,V2 respectively. Valve V1 controls the operation of unit 17.

Two strips 11la,lllb of terminal pins 110 are fed from reels (not shown) into the channels 25 where they are engaged by the feed fingers 22. Electrical and pneumatic supplies to the apparatus are then switched on. A support board 210 is rested on the support plate 70 which is moved along shaft 73 until the finger 74 is positioned above a preselected groove 75 in the locating comb 76. The support plate 70 is then pivoted against the bias of spring 77 to locate finger 74 in the groove to locate the support board 210 accurately with respect to the staker 97 and shear anvil 45.

when the unit 91 is fully retracted, the staker 97 is remote from the shear anvil 45 and channel 50 contains a terminal pin 1 in alignment with the staker, and the channel 51 is aligned with the channel 25 containing the strip 111a, and unit 56 is extended. The support plate 70 is pivoted further against the spring 77 to locate the arms 113,114 of the terminal pin 110 in the holes 212 in the support board 210.

Pivotal movement of the plate 70 also engages arms 88,89 of micro-switches 86,87 respectively. Engagement of arm 88 actuates the solenoid S4 on the valve V4 controlling the supply of air to the unit 91 via the foot pedal, and an indicator light (not shown) to show the operator that the support board 210 is correctly positioned.

A foot pedal (not shown) is depressed to actuate unit 91 through one forward and return stroke. 0n descent of the block 95, the rubber pad 106 engages the upper surface of the support board 210 to ensure full engagement of the arms 1 13,114 in the board to hold the board in position during staking. The downward movement of the tubular member 103 then ceases, but the member 96 and staker 97 continue to descent against the springs 104 until the staker 97 engages the notch 115 in the arm 114 of the terminal pin 110 to stake the pin 110 to the board 210.

While the channel 51 is aligned with the channel 25 containing the strip 1 11a, pin 57 engages the arm 65- of the microswitch 63 controlling the flow of air to the unit 17 via the valve V2. Air is thus supplied to the unit 17 to feed the leading terminal pin 110 of strip 11a into the channel 51. At the same time unit 16 is allowed to retract.

After staking, the unit 91 completes its return stroke and block 95 ascends and striker plate 68 actuates the changeover switch 69. The retraction of the unit 91 permits the support board 210 to be moved for the next staking. Pivotal movement of the support plate 70 away from the locating comb 76 during re-location of the support board 210 disengages the plate 70 from the arms 88,89 which breaks the contacts in the micro-switch 87 to activate the change-over switch 69 to operate valve V3 to cause the unit 56 to retract.

Retraction of the unit 56 causes the lever 55 to move to the right (as shown in FIG. 2), which pivots the shear anvil 45 in an anti-clockwise sense about the pin 43 and shears the terminal pin in the channel 51 from terminal pin strip 111a by movement of the shear anvil 45 against the lower face of the shear block 33. The channel 51 with the terminal pin 110 from the strip 1 1 1a is thus aligned with the staker 97 while the channel 50 is aligned with the channel 25 containing the strip 1 1 lb.

Pin 57a will then engage arm 66 of micro-switch 63a which controls via valve V1 the flow of air to unit 16 to feed the leadin terminal 110 of strip 11 1b into the channel 50.

ince the valve V4 is de-activated on removal of the board 210 from the staking position inadvertent actuation of the unit 91 is minimized. Similarly, since the changeover switch 69 is activated only after removal of the board 210 this minimizes the risk of a strip being fed to the shearing anvil 45 while the board 210 is still in the staking position and before the shearing anvil 45 has moved after staking.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for staking individual electrical terminals from a strip of such terminals to a board, comprising a staker movable towards and away from an anvil having a holder for a leading terminal, feed means for feeding the strip along a feed path past a shear block to the terminal holder, the anvil being adjacent the shear block and movable to move the holder laterally of the shear block between a first position in alignment with the feed path and a second position in alignment with the staker, movement of the holder in one direction between the positions being arranged to shear a leading terminal from the strip and in the other direction to advance the staker towards the anvil.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the terminal holder comprises a channel defined by a surface of a groove formed in the anvil and a co-operating part of an associated guide block.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the feed means are arranged to feed two strips of terminals alternately to the anvil along separate paths, the leading terminal of each strip being receivable within a corresponding one of two terminal holders arranged such that as one holder is aligned with its corresponding feed path, the other is in alignment with the staker.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a locating device remote from the staker and anvil for a support board having the members to be staked.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the locating device comprises an elongate locating comb having longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves, a baseplate for the board about and parallel with the locating comb and having a pivotal finger receivable within a groove in the locating comb. 

1. Apparatus for staking individual electrical terminals from a strip of such terminals to a board, comprising a staker movable towards and away from an anvil having a holder for a leading terminal, feed means for feeding the strip along a feed path past a shear block to the terminal holder, the anvil being adjacent the shear block and movable to move the holder laterally of the shear block between a first position in alignment with the feed path and a second position in alignment with the staker, movement of the holder in one direction between the positions being arranged to shear a leading terminal from the strip and in the other direction to advance the staker towards the anvil.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the terminal holder comprises a channel defined by a surface of a groove formed in the anvil and a co-operating part of an associated guide block.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the feed means are arranged to feed two strips of terminals alternately to the anvil along separate paths, the leading terminal of each strip being receivable within a corresponding one of two terminal holders arranged such that as one holder is aligned with its corresponding feed path, the other is in alignment with the staker.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a locating device remote from the staker and anvil for a support board having the members to be staked.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the locating device comprises an elongate locating comb having longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves, a baseplate for the board about and parallel with the locating comb and having a pivotal finger receivable within a groove in the locating comb. 